Two politicians from Nova Scotia, including a Liberal MP, are urging the Canadian government to reverse its decision to shut down seven federal agriculture research farms, one of which is a historic site in the Maritimes. In January, Agriculture Agri-Food Canada announced layoffs for 1,043 employees as part of cutting around 665 positions, leading to the closure of a facility in Nappan, Nova Scotia, and six others nationwide.
Milton Dyck, the president of the union representing 2,500 Agriculture Agri-Food Canada workers, expressed concern about the potential job losses at the Nappan Research Farm, established in 1887 as one of Canada’s original experimental farms. He emphasized the importance of maintaining ongoing research and called for a reversal of the decision.
Kent MacDonald, the MP for Cardigan, highlighted at a recent meeting that a significant portion of costs at the Nappan site was related to maintenance. However, revenue from beef sales reportedly exceeded these costs, with Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin noting that the farm generated over $400,000 from beef sales in the previous year.
Alana Hirtle, the Liberal MP for Cumberland-Colchester, has asked Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald to reconsider the closure decision for the Nappan Research Farm. She suggested that if closure is inevitable, the assets should benefit the broader agricultural community and called for engagement with stakeholders and discussions with provincial counterparts.
Reynold Bergen, a science director at the Beef Cattle Research Council, emphasized the interconnectedness of the Nappan site with other research facilities across the country, expressing concern over the loss of valuable research resources and expertise. He highlighted the necessity of diverse research locations for the beef industry.
Despite challenges, including potential disruptions to ongoing research projects, efforts are underway to engage with research partners and explore collaborations to mitigate the impact of the closures. Agriculture Agri-Food Canada confirmed that forage breeding research will continue at the Kentville research farm in Nova Scotia, emphasizing the importance of maintaining partnerships in the region.
The decision to close the research farms has sparked debate and raised questions about the future of agricultural research in the region, with stakeholders advocating for careful consideration of the implications and potential alternatives to preserve valuable research assets and support the agricultural community.